Vice President for Advancement CHICAGO THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY THE SEMINARY INSTITUTION OVERVIEW As an affiliated seminary of the United Church of Christ, Chicago Theological Seminary (CTS) www.ctschicago.edu is proud to carry on its 159-year legacy of educating and preparing future leaders for a multitude of ministries. Since its beginning, CTS has pushed the growing boundaries of the church in order to make faith relevant as well as to transform society in the image of justice. Founded in 1855, CTS was established by several Midwestern Congregational Churches to train church leaders on what was then America s western frontier. Originally located on the Westside of Chicago in the current Humboldt Park area, the Seminary made its move to Hyde Park and the University of Chicago s campus in 1928 and to its new LEED Gold-certified home still in Hyde Park in January of 2012. Throughout its history CTS has been a pioneer in theological education, seeking to equip religious leaders for new contexts, whether it be the growing farm and river settlements in 19th century Illinois and Michigan or the ethnically, racially, culturally and religiously diverse communities of 21st century America and beyond. Today, CTS blends an unequaled theological education with a demonstrated commitment to justice and mercy in society to create a unique approach in the preparation of ministers and individuals to serve church, congregations, communities and society in general. The seminary maintains a high level of racial, ethnic, gender, LGBTQ and faith diversity among students, faculty and staff. DEGREE PROGRAMS All CTS academic offerings involve rigorous study of religion, a profound appreciation for diversity and inclusion, and the flexibility of a multi-vocal and multidisciplinary approach. Whether students are interested in parish ministry, counseling, social service, community organizing, teaching, or theological research, CTS has a degree program capable of preparing them for their chosen pursuit. Degree programs include: Master of Divinity, Master of Divinity & Social Services Administration, Master of Arts, Master of Arts in Religious Leadership, Master of Sacred Theology, Doctor of Ministry, Doctor of Ministry in Preaching, Doctor of Philosophy,
People can also study at CTS without earning a degree in the: Certificate Program, and Student-at-Large program. In addition to a traditional in-class setting and experience, students can now complete 100% of their course work for a Master of Divinity or significant portions the Master of Arts in Religious Leadership and STM programs on line a first for progressive Christian Theological seminaries. ACCREDITATION The Association of Theological Schools accredits CTS, most recently in 2006, and the Seminary is a member of and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Schools and Colleges. The Seminary is also a member of ACTS, a cluster of 12 theological schools in the Chicago area that allow library cooperation and cross registration. CTS is a seminary affiliated with the United Church of Christ, and its Master of Divinity graduates qualify for ordination in virtually all Protestant denominations. FACULTY CTS has 12 full-time faculty, all with Ph.D. degrees in their respective fields. Seven members of the faculty are also ordained clergy. The faculty is responsible under the leadership of the President and Academic Dean for recommending policies and proposals concerning academic and educational matters to the Board of Trustees. The CTS faculty has a distinguished record of scholarship that includes publishing of articles and books as well as editing books and professional journals. Faculty are advisors to students in all degree programs and are a resource to churches, church-related bodies and a host of justice-oriented organizations. STUDENTS Students frequently choose CTS because of the core values for which the seminary is known: an emphasis on justice and commitments to diversity. Total enrollment at CTS, including full-time and part-time students, is around 250. CTS s students come from a range of religious, national and racial heritages, and are diverse in terms of age and sexual identity. GOVERNANCE The Board of Trustees, currently made up of 25 members, elects and evaluates the Seminary s President, elects the Academic Dean upon the recommendation of the President and faculty, and elects all faculty members upon recommendation of the Academic Council. The board also acts on all policy recommendations including the annual operating budget, strategic plan and sale or acquisition of property. THE LOCATION The Seminary is located in a new, state of the art LEED-certified building located in the Hyde Park/Woodlawn neighborhood of Chicago, about five miles south of downtown Chicago. It is within walking distance of the Lake Michigan shore, and is set right in the midst of the University of Chicago campus, near five other seminaries or divinity schools.
The Hyde Park area offers an exciting intellectual and aesthetic environment, with wonderful bookstores and libraries, a wide range of housing, cultural venues and parks, and a pedestrian friendly environment. Chicago is one of the world s great cities. Known as business friendly, the city is headquarters to several Fortune 500 companies. Arts and attractions are numerous and varied, including such well known entities as the Art Institute of Chicago, the Field Museum, Adler Planetarium, Goodman Theatre and Second City. Chicago is also home to 16 professional sports teams, including the Chicago Bears, Cubs White Sox and Black Hawks. THE OPPORTUNITY Progressive Christian leadership has never been more necessary. Chicago Theological Seminary is passionate about preparing Leaders for the Next and is uniquely positioned to educate the next generation of religious leaders to transform society towards greater justice and mercy. The school s vision is bold and welcomes proactive and creative leadership. The Seminary is currently looking for its Vice President of Advancement who will report directly to the President, be a member of the Leadership Team, and who will: Lead the development and marketing efforts to support the life and work of the school. Represent CTS with donors, clergy, alumni and the broader community, building a sense of excitement about the Seminary s mission and being actively involved in raising money for ongoing annual, capital and endowment needs. Continue the development and implementation processes and plans for development, marketing, and translating the Vision, Mission, and Commitments of CTS into a powerful regional, national, and global presence. Contribute to and encourage the positive internal culture at CTS, engaging all work with professionalism, transparency, and collaboration. The highest priority for Advancement is in the expansion, diversification and nurturing of funding sources, particularly in the cultivation of major gifts. While CTS is a vibrant and financially stable institution, it is crucial to CTS that the selected candidate will need to purse deliberate, aggressive and positive advancement efforts to ensure long-term stability and growth for current and future program commitments and needs. REPORTING STRUCTURE The Vice President of Advancement will report directly to the President of CTS and will interface frequently with the Board of Trustees. Direct reports in the Advancement Office include a Director of Annual Giving, a Director of Marketing, a Development Office Administrative Assistant, a parttime Manager of Alumni Affairs and Special Events, and several part-time student workers.
RESPONSIBILITIES The responsibilities of the Vice President of Advancement fall into three principal categories: Build Financial Strength By Maximizing Ongoing Giving: Working in partnership with the President, design and implement strategies to bring more people into financial partnership with CTS, raising the level of annual giving from all sources each year. By Building a Detailed Strategic Plan for Institutional Advancement: Working in concert with institutional visioning processes and in conjunction with development goals to create and implement a five-year strategic plan for fundraising. By Reaching Capital and Endowment Campaign Goals: Working with the Board of Trustees and President, launch successful capital and endowment campaigns, participating actively in major gifts calls on current and prospective donors. By Sound Accounting and Control: In collaboration with the President and the Chief Financial Officer, assure that needed systems and controls are in place and that the staff is performing properly, thereby obtaining maximum data integrity, complete and timely reports, and insightful financial analysis to support management decisions. Oversee the maintenance of complete documentation to substantiate all giving and promises to give in order to fulfill all audit requirements. By Effective Planning and Budgeting: Provide well-organized, systematic operational planning and budgeting. Create positive and proactive public presence for CTS. Through continuing the development and implementation of a long-term and short-term marketing plan. Direct attention to major gifts, ongoing gifts, planned giving, corporate and foundation fund-raising, alumni/ae development, and capital campaign planning. Through development and maintenance of relationships with all constituencies. Provide for a collaborative, team-oriented, and positive culture furthering the ideals and vision of CTS. Through collaboration and planning with academic, financial and administrative offices of CTS. Ensure the best presentation/positioning of the school on regional, national, and global fronts. Participate Fully on the Executive Management Team Through Engagement on Both Formal and Informal Bases: Proactively serve, with the VP for Academic Affairs and the VP for Finance and Administration, on the President s Leadership Team, regularly engaging to address key issues facing the school. The VP for Advancement will be a resource for planning, implementation, and decision-making for philanthropic efforts as well as public communication for CTS and will work through the President with the Board and the Board s Advancement Committee.
Through Collaborative Efforts: Work to effectively build and nurture relationships with staff, faculty, students, and alum to promote the CTS Vision, Mission, and Commitments and to strengthen CTS infrastructure and to capitalize on the significant potential of these constituencies. QUALIFICATIONS/SKILLS REQUIRED The ideal candidate will personally exemplify and inspire others to support the Seminary s mission of preparing women and men for religious leadership to transform society toward greater justice and mercy. Among the assets and attributes being sought are the following: Personal Qualities A trustworthy leader with unquestioned professional and personal integrity and ethics Unqualified concurrence with all of CTS s Vision, Mission and Statement of Commitment An approachable leader with strong interpersonal abilities, listens intentionally and helps find solutions Committed to consultative and collaborative processes, building trust and esprit de corps among constituencies Exceptional and persuasive oral and written communications skills maturity, care and good judgment in controlling and conveying key information Celebration of human diversity in all of its dimensions Ability to develop and maintain positive relationships with all constituencies, engaging and uniting staff around common goals and across work-groups Ability and desire to think creatively in service of organizational results Demonstrated attention to details and a penchant for follow-through Willingness to travel and represent CTS both locally and across the United States Professional Preparation Documented success in raising major gifts, with proven effectiveness in leading capital campaigns and ongoing fundraising Demonstrated strength in leadership and administration Demonstrated success with creating and executing a strategic plan Successful experience in supervision and project management Proficiency with Raiser s Edge fund raising software Educational background commensurate with the responsibilities of the position Experience with fund raising in higher education preferred Knowledge of and appreciation for the history and work of faith communities in general, and the United Church of Christ in particular, will be helpful Preference for experience in guiding strategic planning and related major change initiatives General management level skills in accounting and use of software programs Administrative strengths in organizing, driving projects and controlling results A career evidencing professional growth, employment stability and distinctions
POSITION BENEFITS In addition to having an opportunity to join and assist in the success and growth of this renown and historic educational institution, this role has a competitive compensation package and a comprehensive benefits program. THE CTS VISION, MISSION AND STATEMENT OF COMMITMENT Vision Statement Chicago Theological Seminary shall be an international force in the development of religious leadership to transform society toward greater justice and mercy. Mission Statement Chicago Theological Seminary, a seminary of the United Church of Christ, serves Christ and the churches and the wider faith community by preparing women and men in the understandings and skills needed for religious leadership and ministry to individuals, churches and society. Statement of Commitment In fulfillment of our Vision and Mission Statements and being led by the mission and ministry of Jesus and the Spirit of God, Chicago Theological Seminary is a community of faculty, staff, students, trustees, alumni/ae and supporters joined in learning from each other and in commitment to preparing persons who will be leaders of ecclesial and social transformation in anticipation of the divine reign of justice and mercy. To this end, we undertake the following specific commitments: We are committed to a curricular structure in all degree programs that encourages academic excellence and free inquiry, that focuses on the issues of transformative leadership, and that fosters cooperation between communities of faith and other community-based organizations to promote the power of life against the forces of death. We are committed to confronting the spiritual impoverishment of our time characterized by meaninglessness, lovelessness and hopelessness with the message of the divine call, love and promise. We are committed to enabling communities of faith to effectively engage in public ministry, articulating the cry of the dispossessed, the transcendent claim of true justice and helping to heal the wounds and divisions that disfigure the social body. We are committed, in conscious response to the Holocaust and in recognition of the toll taken by religious divisions in our world, to fostering better understanding and collaboration among religious traditions, paying particular attention to cooperation among Christianity, Judaism and Islam toward the end of realizing the aims of the prophetic traditions. We are committed, in a society driven by racism, to equipping leaders who honor cultural and racial diversity while resolutely combating the forces of division and domination.
We are committed, in a world in which sexism remains a powerful force, to fostering leadership for gender justice, including developing a more mature masculine spirituality and engaging feminist and womanist spiritualties. We are committed, while church and society are threatened by new forces of division under the banner of homophobia, to developing leadership for a more inclusive church and society. We are committed, in recognition that the divisions of society are global as well as local and national concerns, to fostering the international collaboration of institutions that have a similar commitment to the transformation of church and society and to the equipping of individuals for this ministry in diverse settings around the world. In all of these ways, we are committed to embracing not only the rhetoric but the reality of diversity, to celebrating the costs and joys of discipleship, and to boldly accepting the challenges entailed by this Statement of Commitment. FOR POTENTIAL CONSIDERATION PLEASE EMAIL RESUME TO: Larissa A. Tosi, Associate Kensington International, Inc. 1515 West 22nd Street, Suite 500 Oak Brook, IL 60523 PHONE: (312) 658-1069 E-Mail: ltosi@kionline.com Or, Kim Johnson, Assistant to the President, at kjohnson@ctschicago.edu